South Shields 21st - 22nd April 2007

Gareth Williams dominated the first National Ranker and N&MTT, winning all five races. He was headed for a while in race two, after going back for a recall signal that wasn’t for him. He stayed behind Richard Eagleton for the first lap, but found a better route up the second beat and took the lead again. Then in race five, when the result was settled anyway, he messed up a few tacks on the shifting first beat, and rounded the first mark down in fourth place before working his way to the front again. Perhaps he needs some inland practice tacking on shifts to sharpen up this part of his sailing!

Leading the pack behind Gareth, Richard had a clean sweep of second places, except for the last race, when the spirit was willing but the body had had enough. He headed home for an early shower and leisurely lunch.

Stacey Vials started her season well, with two thirds and a break for early tea on Saturday, then the best race of the series on Sunday morning when she and Richard swapped second and third place a few times. Richard had a narrow lead at the start of the last run and gybed early. Stacey continued on starboard, the wind built down the run, so when Stacey had to gybe it was time for a swim, and Richard cruised home. In the final race Stacey held off Katie Mapplebeck for second.

Katie’s not-so-champagne moment was a spectacular death-roll returning from the recall in race two. Val Ludlow had made the long trip south, worked hard throughout all five races but never quite made it into the places. Katie Hughes, second time ever on the sea, found it very testing but great fun (I think)! Joanne Farrow was the only one of the small local fleet to get on the water, racing for the first time against other Europes. She learned a lot on the Saturday but suffered an injury in the process and had to miss the Sunday. She’ll be back!

It was a good event to start the season and well worth the journeying from all points of the compass (except east!). We were lucky with the weather, about 15 knots most of the time on Saturday, some lulls, some gusts, and fading at the end of the day. Sunday was a little lighter all round. There was a bit of North Sea swell coming in, but the offshore westerly was enough to kick up waves going in the opposite direction as well. Surfing upwind as well as down!

It was our first visit to South Shields Sailing Club, who proved to be efficient at running the racing and hospitable in the bar and the galley. There was camping in the compound and B&Bs within walking distance, so it was a great weekend all round. We’ll be back next year!